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"Decarbonization" - WHAT?

"Decarbonization" - WHAT?

Decarbonization is important to halt climate change. But what exactly is behind it? And what is Volkswagen doing about it?

CO2-neutral balance-sheet car production, such as with the new Volkswagen ID., is one of the most important measures on the road to a CO2-free global economy.

Clean Decarbonization is the keyword in Volkswagen's sustainability strategy. In order to limit rising global temperatures and reduce man-made CO2- emissions as quickly as possible, the Company is expressly committed to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. It provides for a climate-neutral society by 2050. And the automaker is already drawing the necessary conclusions. At the annual press conference on 12 March 2019, the goal of Co2-neutral mobility plays a central role. "The CO2-problem is the greatest global challenge," said Michael Jost, Chief Strategist of the Volkswagen brand, recently.

Coal and oil are the strongest drivers of increased CO₂ emissions.

But what exactly does decarbonization mean in this context? And what objectives and measures are associated with it?

The term decarbonization literally means the reduction of carbon. Precisely meant is the conversion to an economic system that sustainably reduces and compensates the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂). The long-term goal is to create a CO₂-free global economy. In this context, car manufacturers such as Volkswagen must make their contribution alongside other economic sectors. According to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the transport sector accounts for around 14 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions – and this figure is rising. Automobile manufacturers are therefore called upon to do their bit.

The transport sector accounts for around 14 per cent of global CO₂ emissions.

This is one of the reasons why Volkswagen relies on e-mobility. From today's perspective, e-mobility is the best and most efficient way of achieving climate-neutral, clean mobility. But it requires that the energy revolution be consistently driven forward, and sufficient amounts of renewable energy be available. Over the next few years, the company will launch the industry's largest spectrum of e-vehicles. The models of the ID. family are specially designed for e-mobility and optimally exploit the possibilities of this technology: They offer long ranges, plenty of space, dynamic driving behavior and a whole new level of digital networking. The first model to start production at the Zwickau plant at the end of 2019 is the compact ID.. It will be launched at the beginning of 2020. The SUV ID. CROZZ will follow shortly afterwards, followed by the ID. BUZZ and the ID. VIZZION sedan. In the future, Volkswagen will offer attractive electric cars across all segments – from the compact segment to the Volkswagen Bus. The brand aims to sell at least one million electric cars worldwide per year, by 2025.

CO2-emissions are consistently avoided right from the start

What is crucial is that Volkswagen not only builds electric cars, but also monitors the complete life cycle from raw materials to recycling. For the electric car is only as clean and green as the electricity used to build and charge it. Cell production, in particular, is still very energy-intensive, and charging cars with coal-derived power is a burden to the overall environmental equilibrium.

In order to tailor electric cars sustainably towards climate protection, it is precisely these areas that have to be addressed. That’s exactly what Volkswagen is doing: With the new ID., already set for production this year, the brand will be putting a climate-neutral car onto the road. CO2-emissions will be avoided or reduced from the beginning, and currently unavoidable emissions will be offset by investments in climate protection projects.

This is how Volkswagen ensures that the new ID., which will be launched on the market in 2020, can be produced and driven in a climate-neutral manner from the outset.

In summary: Volkswagen is taking action in order to reach the Paris Agreement’s goal of a climate-neutral society by 2050. With the ID., the brand is demonstrating that clean, climate-neutral mobility is possible. At the same time, there is also a great economic opportunity in all this. “The strategic goal of becoming the leading worldwide provider of e-mobility can make the focus on consistent decarbonization a strong competitive edge,” says Georg Kell, spokesman for Volkswagen’s independent sustainability advisory board.“In any case, it offers the best way for setting a common course for a secure and economically successful future on a planet worth living on.”

The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Starting on September 1st 2018, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced by the WLTP in stages. Owing to the more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured according to the WLTP will, in many cases, be higher than those measured according to the NEDC. For further information on the differences between the WLTP and NEDC, please visit www.volkswagen.de/wltp.

We are currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. It is possible to specify the WLTP figures voluntarily in addition until such time as this is required by law. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering. They are intended exclusively as a means of comparison between different vehicle types. Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tyre formats, etc.) may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO2 emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new passenger car models”, which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de.